Archive for 'Tourist Attractions'

The museums and impressive architectural gems for which Florence is so well-known may have long and fascinating histories but some of the shops, markets, and eateries also have impressive legacies. Caffè Gilli is a perfect example of this: a truly stunning café with over two centuries of history and an important location in which cultural events have long been taking place. For those who love coffee and pastries and beautiful surroundings, it is the ideal spot to take a break from running around to see all that the city has to offer and to soak up the true wonder of your surroundings if you have been thining of booking a vacation rental in Florence and spending time in the city. 

While picture-perfect colourful seaside towns, the gentle rolling hills and golden scenery of Tuscany and Umbria, and the grand cities of Rome and Florence are some of the images that predominate in our collective imaginings of Italy, the wilder and more dramatic views of Italy’s varied landscapes are equally captivating. Particularly, in the north, where the Alps tower overhead, Italy affords some truly breath-taking and awe-inspiring scenery. These glimpses of the sublime, of nature at its most unchecked, untamed, and wild, offer the perfect chance to escape the mundane, refresh your eyes, and wonder at the majesty of the world. And, one of the best examples of a place to take in such views and scenes is the Gran Paradiso National Park, which can be visited if you book one of our vacation rentals in Aosta Valley or holiday rentals in Piedmont.

Bernini is a name less well-known to most than the likes of Da Vinci or Michelangelo or Caravaggio but the artist was a great genius and multi-talented innovator who created extraordinary things. As an architect, he was impossibly prolific, came to be one of the most important architects of the 17th century, and was the one who gave us St Peter’s Square in Rome as well as the interior decoration of the Basilica, a number of Rome’s most elegant palazzi, and many other great works.

As a sculptor, he was the leading artist of his time and is credited as the one who initiated the Baroque style. However, in this writer’s opinion, it was his ability to breath life into stone that most recommends his work. Those who want to admire the incredible power and lifelike quality of his sculptures as well as his grand and impressive architectural feats should book a vacation rental in Rome and discover wonders like his sculpture, the Abduction of Proserpina in the Galleria Borghese.

Looking for a perfect romantic getaway this spring? With its utterly picturesque surroundings, pretty towns, and laidback atmosphere, Lake Como makes for the ideal place to spend quality time with the one you love in the most romantic of surroundings!

Our villas in Lake Como are perfectly built for two and give you ready access to all of the charm and attractions of this beautiful part of the world. So, discover the romantic appeal of Lake Como and plan your getaway today…

While Rome abounds with incredible museums, churches, palaces, fountains, sculptures, architectural gems, unexpected surprises, grand monuments, ancient ruins, and much more besides, while there are truly endless things to see and do, you might find yourself in need of a moment of peace and quiet while on vacation in Rome. If so, we have just the thing for you, a truly magical little corner of the Eternal City, the Orto Botanico dell'Università di Roma "La Sapienza", also known as the Orto Botanico di Roma.